Taylor



Nqv. 7, 1939.

R. TAYLOR HOSE Original Filed June 26, 1954 l 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 0 likehaving an upper part (e. g. 'that part which Reuecl Nov. 7, 1939v UNITEDSTATES HOSE Raymond Taylor, Earl Shilton, England, assignor, by mesneassignments, to Hosiery Patents, Inc., Wilmington, Del., a corporationof Delaloriginal No. 2,117,921, dated Mayl'l, 1938, Serial No. 732,541,June 23, 1934. Application for reissue July l0, 1939, Serial No.284,022.

Great Britain April 10, 1934 i Claims. (Cl. 66-172) This invention isfor improvements in or relating to hose or the like. It is chienyconcerned with ladies' hose, which, as is well known, extend above theknee and are commonly-supported by means of Suspenders. Because such astocking is pulled up taut over the knee, as the latter is flexed thestocking is subjected to considerable tension both in thecircumferential and in the longitudinal direction, The latter stress 'ismore or less concentrated or localized because the suspender only aiordsa local grip, and hence is a proliiic cause oi' ladders. Moreover,because knitted fabric is possessed o1' substantial elasticity only inthe direction of the courses (i. e. circumferentially of a hose) thecourses are distorted by the pull of the suspender, giving an untidyappearance.

These disadvantages are obviated according to the present invention byproviding a hose or the in a stocking comes at or above the knee) offabric which is capable of substantial stretch both in thecircumferential and in the longitudinal direction, 'This two-way stretchis most con- 5 veniently achieved by working elastic thread into thefabric. It is oi course well known to lay elastic thread weft-wisebetween the oppcsltely drawn loops of a' rib-knitted upper portion ofgoli hose, mens socks, and the like without knitting the thread intoloops. but owing to the unidirectional disposition of the elastic threadat all times, this does not impart two-way stretch to the article-onlyincreased elasticity in the circum- Ierential direction.

According to an important feature oi 'the present invention the elasticthread is so worked into the fabric comprised in the upper part ci' thearticle that it extends to some extent longitudinally thereof, atleastwhen the article is stretched inthat direction. Therefore there isincorporated in the top oi' the hose or the like. preierably at or a ve'the knee, lace made "wholly or part oi elastic thread.

A preferred embodiment oi this invention :is illustrated in theacooxnpa-I 1w drawings, in which Figure 1\ ls a view of a ladies hosehaving atwo-way stretch portion at the top. and

Figure il is a view, on an enlarged scale, oi said two-way stretchportion.

Figure 3 is a view ci a section o! the iebrlc v employed for thesuspender grip portion o! a stocking? embodying the present invention.

Throughout this description like reference numerals indicate like parts.

The hose shown (which may either be fully fashioned or seamless) isprovided, above the plain knitted leg I0 and in the position usuallyoccupied by the welt, with a two-way stretch portion vIl of lace fabric.

In the preferred embodiment of this invention this lace portion il takesthe form of a circumferential band produced, separately from the hose,upon a lace machine of known or approved type, such as a levers orgol-through machine, and either seamed to the top of the hose (as ispreferred) at I2 or run on to the needles by which the hose is knitted.The said band Il is con- I veniently produced in strip form, therequisite length being cut from the strip and the ends of it seemedtogether at I3 before or after it has been seemed to the hose.

In the strip from which the band Il is iormed there are longitudinalelastic threads l-l with which ilner textile threads I5 pillar in anydesired lace or open work pattern. Therefore these elastic threads arebound together at intervals,

in groups, as are the bobbin threads in ordinary or more. Lace weaves orpatterns suitable for the l purpose of this invention will present noihmculty to the lace manufacturer.

It is an arly n; if, above the two-way stretch band ll ci the new, thereis a band l5 of iabric which is stouter than the ordinary fabric ofthe Ihose and so ni'ords a goed grip or the suspenders and is not liable torupture. his welt or suspender @rlp-band i5 isr preferably produced onthe lace ymachine as a band of clothing at the side ci the lace band iland united thereto. Elastic threads are desirably incorporated in thisclothing also, so that a carter portion is iormed at the top of thehose. Above the clothing it there may be a further narrow band l1 ofelastic lace, and at the cxtreme top ci the hose a very narrow band ofclothing IB incorporating the elwtic threads. in these bands ofclothing, laecause they are made simultaneously with the 1bands il, l?,the velastic threads extend in the main circumierentially, so that said'bands' are capable of circumferential stretch, but as the said threadsare also bound together by textile threads which extend to and frobetween them, when the stocking is strained longitudinally the elasticthreads take up a sinuous form, and hence left free as clearly shown inFig. 2.

It is preferred that the elastic thread employed in the manufacture ofhose and thelike according to this invention shall be wrapped orcovered.

Although reference has been made herein to a preferred embodiment of-this yinvention having a specific open work or lace pattern for thecircumferential band composed of elastic threads, and to certainmachines upon which such a fabric may be made, it will be understoodthat thisinvention in its broader aspects is not coniined to anyparticular pattern or limited in any way to the character or type ofmachine upon which the fabric is made, providing the elastic threadsthereof are so incorporated and sinuously arranged as to allow stretchboth circumferentially and longitudinally oi' the stocking.

I claim:-

1. A hose, having near the top a circumferential band of fabricincorporating elastic threads which extend side by sidecircumierentially of the hose, and other threads binding said elasticthreads together at intervals, in groups, certain of whichelastiethreads extend to and fro between a plurality of groups.

2. In the extreme top of a ladies stocking that has the leg knitted ofrelatively inelastic strands, an upper part of fabric made upon a lacemachine and including a piece of clothing, which fabric incorporateselastic threads and is capable of stretch both longitudinally andcircumferentially of the hose.

3. A ladies full-lengtmhose having a leg knitted of comparativelyinelastic thread and having attached thereto a suspender grip, extendingfrom the open end of the stocking to a position adjacent the knee of thewearer, which suspender grip consists of lace fabric, in which 4elasticthreads are incorporated and which iscapable of simultaneous stretch indirections both circumterentially and longitudinally of the stocking.

. having a top portion including a suspender grip at the open end of thestocking and an open mesh, non-ravel, lace fabric disposed beneath saidsuspender grip and above and adjacent to the kneeA and attached to saidknitted leg portion, the top portion of said hose being designed toprevent the formation of runs above the knee, and the lace fabric ofsaid top portion having incorporated therein sinuously arranged elasticthreads whereby said fabric is capableof simultaneous stretch indirections both'circumferentially and longitudinally of the hose torelieve strains upon the knitted, leg portion caused by iiexure of theknee.

5. A stocking having near its top, a circumferential band of lace fabricincorporating elastic threads which extend circumferentially of thestocking, and other threads which bind together adjacent elastic threadsat circumferentially spaced points in staggered relation, with tlie'e--sult that substantial free portions of the elastic threads are leftbetween the points of binding, whereby said band is given the capacityto yield both longitudinally and circumferentially of the stocking.

6. A stocking having at its topa circumferen-i tial band of lace fabricincorporating elastic threads which extend circumferentially of thestocking, said band being characterized by an upper portion in which theelastic threads are bound together throughout their length and by otherthreads, and a lower portion in which the elastic threads are boundtogether by other threads at spaced circumferential points in staggeredrelation, with the result that in said lower portion substantial freeportions of the elastic threads are left between the points of bindingwhereby the band is given the capacity to stretch both longitudinallyand circumferentially of the stocking.

.7. A stocking having at its top a circumferential band of lace fabricincorporating elastic threads which extend circumferentially of thestocking, said band being characterized by upper and-lower marginalportions in which the elastic threads are bound together throughouttheir lengths by other threads, and by an intermediate zone in whichadjacent elastic threads are bound together by other threads at spacedcircumferential points in staggered relation, with the result that insaid zone, substantial free portions of the elastic threads are leftbetween the points of binding, whereby the band is given the capacity toyield both longitudinally and circumferentially 0f the stocking.

. RAYMOND TAYLOR.

